Manufacture of artificial silk or the like



May 29, 1928. r 1,671,785

J. L. R USHTON MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL SILK OR THE LIKE Filed Sept. 22, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 'lllvm May 29, 1928. 1,671,785

J. L. RUSHTON Y MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL SILK OR THE LIKE Filed Sept. 22, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 29, 1928.

UNITED STATES JAMES LEVER RUSHTON, 0F BOLTON, ENGLAND.

MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL SILK OR THE LIKE.

Application filed September 22, 1926, Serial No.

This invention is for improvements in or relating to the manufacture of artificial silk or the like, and has for one of its objects to provide for draw or feeding tension being applied to the filament in an improved manner. Another object of the invention is to increase the efliciency of the process of manufacture and render it more economical by reducing the length of time of the interruptions in the operation of the machine.

In centrifugal spinning machines draw or feeding tension has been proposed to be applied to a filament of artificial silk or the like during manufacture by entraining the filament in a carrier currentof liquid supplied continuously to the funnel which directs the filament to the spinning box, which supply of liquid entrains the filament and enters with it into the spinning box.

According to the invention there is provided a method of applying draw or feeding tension to a filament ot' artificial silk or the like during manufacture which comprises entraining the filament in a carrier current of fluid and which is characterized in that the said carrier current is employed to complement the action of other tension applying means and is only brought into operation when the said other tension-applying means are inoperative. Usually a liquid such as water will be employed for this purpose, and it will be appreciated that the current can be regulated so as to impart the requisite pull to the filament in as gentle a manner as is necessary in view of the fragile nature of the filament. The carrier current can also be employed to guide or direct the filament along a desired path, and the invention is applicable for use in various types of machines including those embodying centrifugal spinning boxes and those in which the filament is Wound about a Winding spindle.

From the foregoing it will be seen that there is provided according to the present invention an artificial silk spinning or like machine having means for directing a carrier current of fluid along the path of the filament to entrainthe latter and urge it in the direction in which it is required to move, which machine is'characte'rized in that the said carrier current of fluid is employed in conjunction with 'an intermittently operating mechanical feed, and is under the control of an automatic regulating member whereby the current is brought into opera- 136,969, and in Great Britain October 29, 1925.

tion only in the interi'al between the operations of the said mechanical feed. Thus, the current may be employed in conjunction with a filament-package former whereof the feeding tension ceases between the completion of the formation of one lilan'ient-package and the commencement of a new one.

In such an arrangement the filament-package former may have combined with it an element which is necessarily moved when a completed filament-package is dotted preparatory to the commencement of the formation of a new package, which movable element is operatively connected to the currentregulating member to actuate the latter and efi'ect automatic control of the carrier current. In this way the carrier current is employed to continue the feed of the filament while the operator is arranging for the winding of a new package to be commenced, thus obviating the need for shutting ofl the supply of filament solution to the squirting nozzle. To shut off the supply is liable to cause the squirting nozzle to choke through coagulation taking place, and in the attempt to avoid this occurring the operators some times leave the squirting nozzle in operation and allow the filaments to wind about the godet rollers durin the period that the winding of a proper filament-package is interrupted. These godet rollers are usually of glass and in a centrifugal spinning machine they guide the filaments to the funnel Which leads them into the spinning box. Such amount of filament as is wound around the godet rollers is, of course, wasted, and has to be removed by hand from the rollers before the filament is guided again through the funnel into the spinning box for the commencement of the new filament-package. The waste of the filament is not important, but the time occupied in removing the waste from the godet rollers may be important, and this loss of time may be avoided by the employment of the present invention.

In applying the invention to a centrifugal spinning machine in which the filament is directed into the spinning box by a funnel which is movable to and from operative position relativel to the spinnin box, there may be employed a supply pipe or the carrier fluid, which pipe is mounted in position to deliver the fluid into the mouth of the funnel when the latter has been moved into fully Withdrawn position. There may also be provided a waste collector situated adjacent to the funnel in such a position as to collect the discharge therefrom when the funnel is in its fully withdrawn position.

In British specification No. 24,051 of 1925, there is described a funnel mounting in the form of an articulated framework whereof one side is relatively stationary and theother sides move to carry the funnel to and from operative position relatively to the spinning box. A funnel mounting of this nature may be employed in carrying out the present invention, and the supply pipe aforesaid may be controlled by a cock which is operatively connected to, and operated by, one of the said movable sides of the articulated framework. The funnel mounting may be so constructed and arranged that, in the withdrawal movement of the funnel, the latter is first withdrawn from its operative position, to a position outside the spinning box, by a movement that is substantially in the direction of the length of the funnel spout or stem, and subsequently is tilted laterally with respect to its operative position. This will enable the aperture in the spinning box, through which the funnel stem passes, to be kept small, while at the same time enabling the funnel when fully withdrawn to have its stem directed towards the waste receptacle aforesaid. Where this particular movement is required in a funnel mounting consisting of an articulated framework having four sides, those in one opposite pair may be of unequal length and those of the other pair appropriated one to carry the funnel and the other to be mounted on a relatively stationary support. In other words the framework will be a distorted parallel motion linkwork and instead of the funnel having a parallel movement it will have a tilting movement.

For a more complete understandin of the invention there will now be descri ed, by way of example onl and with reference to the accompanying rawings, one constructional form of funnel mounting and water feed apparatus for a centrifugal spinning machine for manufacturing artificial silk. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not restricted to the precise constructional details set forth.

In these drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus showing it in full lines in its withdrawn position and in chain lines in its operative position.

Figure 2 is a rear view, and

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, but on a scale larger than that of this latter figure.

Like reference numerals indicate like parts throughout the drawings.

In the construction illustrated, the funnel mounting is carried upon a traverse rail 10 which is vertically -movable relatively to the spinning box to lay the filament in coils side by side inside the spinning box 11. Mounted upon the traverse rail 10 is a bracket 12 having two horizontal pivots 13 and 14, one vertically over the other, and on these pivots are mounted a pair of links 15 and 16, each of which constitutes one side of an articulated framework and each of which comprises duplicate members, one on each side of the bracket 12. These links 15 and 16 at their other ends are connected by another link 17 which has its points of connection 18 and 19 to the links 15 and 16 so placed that the latter are nearly rallel. The lower link however is shorter t an the upper, and the distance between the pivots 13 and 14 on the bracket is greater than the distance between the pivots 18 and .19 at the ends of the link 17. The link 17 carries the funnel 20 by means of :1. lug 21. The articulated framework thus constituted can be swung about the bracket 12 in a vertical plane between a lower position in which the link 15 rests against the foot 22 of the bracket 12, and an upper position in which the links 15 and 16 have been closed towards each other. The link 17 which carries the funnel is vertical, or nearly so, in and towards its lower, i. e. its operative, position and is tilted in its upper or fully withdrawn position, the direction of the tiltin being such as to direct the lower end of t e funnel towards the foot of the bracket. At 'the foot of the bracket 12 there is situated a waste collector which may take the form of a long trough 23 extending from end to end of the machine.

The traverse rail 10, which carries this trough, also carries a water supply pipe which has a vertical branch 25 appropriated to each funnel this vertical branch ter minatingat its upper end adjacent to the upper pivot 14 of the bracket 12. This pivot 14 is-received in a conical seating 26 in the bracket 12 and the pivot is formed with a transverse conduit 27 which can connect passages 28 and 29 opening on to the seating 26. The passage 28 leads from the pipe 25 and the passage 29 leads to a pipe 30 which reaches over the top of the funnel mounting and has a downwardly directed end 31 which is so situated that when the funnel is in its fully withdrawn position its flared mouth lies directly under the said pipe end 31. The pivot 14 is controlled by 'a spring 32 which tends to keep it tightly engaged in its seating, and at each endof the conical portion of the pivot, which conical portionconstitutes a water cock, there are squared portions 33 and 34 which are received in the two members of the link 16.

Consequently, when the link 16 moves the pivot 14 will be turned to bring its conduit 27 into or out of the position in which it connects passages 28 and 29. The setting.

till

is such that when the link is in its upper position, i. e. the position shown in full lines in Figure 1, the passages 28 and 29 are connected and water can consequently flow from the pipe through the pipe 30 to the funnel 20.

lVhcn thefunnel is moved from its operative position to its inoperative or fully withdrawn position the cock is opened and water flows from the supply pipe 24: to the funnel- 20 and so washes the filament through the latter to the trough 23. Immediately the funnel is returned to its operative position in the spinning box the cock automatically shuts off the fluid supply and the feed of the filament proceeds due to the centrifugal action in the spinning box. Consequently, the operator has only to perform the usual operation and withdraw the funnel from operative position and return it thereto and there is no need to spend any time in removing the filament from the godet rollers.

The funnel mounting is preferably so disposed, as is described also in the aforesaid prior specification, that when the funnel is in its operative position the movable sides of the framework lie slightly to' one side of the dead centre position in which opposite sides of the framework are furthest apart, through which dead centre position the sides of the framework move in withdrawing the funnel from the spinning box. This will ensure that the lateral movement of the funnel until. it leaves the spinning box is but small. As will be seen from Figure 1, the lateral movement in question is represented by the distance35.

It is to be understood that the invention is not restricted to the precise constructional details set forth. For instance, the invention includes the employment of acarrier fiuid other than water, and also the application of such carrier current for purposes other than n'iaintaining the travel of an artilicial silk filament during removal of acompleted filament-package.

1. The method of applying draw or feeding tension to a filament of artificial silk or the like during manufacture which comprises entraining the filament in a carrier current of fluid to continue its movement when other normally-opeative tension-applying means are inoperative.

2. The method of continuing themovement-of a filament of artificial silk or the like during manufacture and while a fill]: ment package is being dofl'ed which comprises entraining the filament in a carrier current of fluid.

3. An artificial silk spinning or like machine, having an intermittently operating mechanical feed for the filament, means for directing a carrier current of fluid along the path of the filament to entrain the latter and urge it in the direction in which it is required to move, and an automatic regulatlng member controlling said means and bringing the carrier current into operation only in the intervals between the operations of the said mechanical feed.

4. An artificial silk spinning or like machine, having a mechanical feed for the filament Which is interrupted when a completed filament package is to be dotted, means for directing a carrier currentof fluid along the path of the filament to entrain the latter and continue its movement while the completed package is being dotted, and an automatic regulating member controlling said means and bringing the carrier current into operation only in the intervals be tween the operations of the said mechanical feed.

5. An artificial silk spinning or like machine having a filament-package former, means for directing a carrier current of fluid along the path of the filament to entrain the latter and urge it in the direction in which it is required to move, a regulating member for bringing the carrier current into operation and a movableelement combined with said former, which movable element is necessarily moved when a completed filament-package is to be dofied and which is operatively connected to said regulating member to actuate the latter and bring the carrier current into operation only when a filament package is being dofi'ed.

6. An artificial silk spinning or like machine having a centrifugal spinning-box, a. funnel directing the filament into the spinning-box, means for moving thefunnel to and from operative positionrelatively to the spinning-box, a supply pipe for carrier fluid which is located to deliver the fluid into the mouth of the funnel when the latter has been moved into fully withdrawn position and an automatic regulating memher which permits the flow of the carrier fluid only when the funnel has been moved into fully withdrawn position.

7. An artificial silk spinning or like machine having a centrifugal spinning-box. a funnel directing the filament intosaidspinhing-box, means for moving the funnel to and from operative position relatively to the spinning-box, a supply pipe for carrier fluid which is located to deliver the fluid into the mouth of the funnel when the latter has been moved into fully withdrawn position, a waste collector so situated adjacent to the funnel when the latter is in its withdrawn position as to collect the discharge therefrom, a regulating member for controlling the passage of fluid to said supply pipe, and an element operatively connected to said funnel and said regulating member to move the latter to permit fluid to pass to said supply pipe only when the funnel has been moved into withdrawn position.

8. An artificial silk or like spinning machine having a centrifugal spinning-box, a funnel directing the filament into said spinning-box an articulated framework whereon the funnel is mounted and whereof one side is relatively stationary and the other sides move to carry the tunnel to and from operative position relatively to the spinningbox a supply pipe for carrier fluid which is located to deliver the fluid into the mouth of the funnel when the latter has been moved into fully withdrawn position, a cock controlling the passage of fluid to the supply pipe, and means whereby said cock is operatively connected to one of the said movable sides of the articulated framework and actuated thereby to permit fluid to pass to the supply pipe when the funnel has been moved into its withdrawn position.

9. An artificial silk spinning or like machine having a centrifugal spinning-box, a funnel directing the filament into the spinning-box, a mounting for said funnel so constructed and arranged that the funnel can be moved to and from its operative position and that in the withdrawal movement of the funnel, the latter is first withdrawn from its operative position to a position outside the spinning-box by a movement that is substantially in the direction of thelengthof the tunnel spout and is subsequently tilted laterally with respect'to its operative position to carry it clear of the spinning-box, a supply pipe for the carrier fluid which-is mounted in position to deliver the fluid into the mouth of the funnel when the latter is so tilted and an automatic regulating member which permits the flow of the carrier fluid only when the funnel has been moved into fully withdrawn position.

10. An artificial silk spinning or like machine having a centrifugal spinning-box, a funnel directing the filament into the spin ning-box, a mounting for said funnel so constructed andarranged that the funnel can be moved to and from its operative position and that, in the withdrawal movement of the funnel, the latter is first withdrawn from its operative position to a position outside the spinning-box by a movement that is substantially in the direction of the length of the funnel spout and is subsequently tilted laterally with respect to its operative position, a supply pipe for the carrier fluid which is mounted in position to deliver the fluid into the mouth of the funnel when the latter is so tilted, an automatic regulating member which permits the flow of the carrier fluid only when the funnel has been moved into fully withdrawn position, and a waste collector situated adjacent to the funnel in such a position as to collect the discharge therefrom when the tunnel is tilted and is in its fully withdrawn position.

11. An artificial silk spinning or like machine having a centrifugal spinning-box, a funnel directing the. filament into the spinning-box, an articulated framework whereon the funnel is mounted and whereof one side is relatively stationary and the other sides move to carry the funnel to and from operative position relatively to the spinningbox and wherein the sides are of such dimensions and so disposed relatively to one another that, in the withdrawal movement of the funnel, the latter is first withdrawn from.itsoperative position to a position outside the spinning-box by a movement that is substantially in the direction of the length of the funnel spout and is subsequently tilted laterally with respect to its operative position, a supply pipe for the carrier fluid which is mounted in position to deliver the fluid into the mouth of the funnel when the latter is so tilted and an automatic regulatare of unequal length and those in the other 4 pair are appropriated one to carry the funnel and the other to be relatively stationary whereby in the withdrawal movement of the funnel, the latter is first withdrawn from its operative position to a position outside the spinning-box by a movement that is substantially in the direction of the length of the tunnel spout and is subsequently tilted laterally with respect to its operative position, a supply pipe for the carrier fluid which is mounted in position to deliver the fluid into the mouth of the funnel when the latter is so tilted. and an automatic regulating member which permits the flow of the carrier fluid only when the funnel has been moved into fully withdrawn position.

In tcstiuumy whereoi l ailix my signature.

J AMES LEVER RUSHTON. 

